WASHINGTON — Despite all the public statements to the contrary, the Nets and 76ers aren’t just open to making a deal. They’ve been talking trade, and reportedly making progress on a swap centered around James Harden and Ben Simmons.

There would be other pieces involved, which is why any such blockbuster is so fragile and could easily fall apart. Haggling over the sweeteners is the holdup.

Brooklyn asked for Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle, while Seth Curry and a first-round pick were mentioned by the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Sixers reportedly offered Isaiah Joe and G-League MVP Paul Reed.

Either way, talks have been ongoing through back channels. And ESPN reported the two sides have made progress. Whether it’s enough by Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade Crumpe is the million-dollar question; or in Harden’s case, the $60 million gamble.

Harden, who will miss a third straight game Thursday against the Wizards, rejected a three-year, $161 million extension before the season with an eye toward free agency this summer. With sources telling The Post that some inside the Nets have taken note of his grumblings, it’s easy to see why they have been willing to have talks.

“I can’t tell you how much James Harden wants this,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said. “He is screaming in every way he possibly can, ‘I don’t want to be here, get me out of here.’ ”

It sure seemed that way in Harden’s most recent appearance, a four-point non-effort on Feb. 2 in Sacramento, his lowest-scoring game since 2014 in which he had logged at least 30 minutes. Harden shot 2 of 11, committed six turnovers and finished a wretched minus-21.

Could that low-energy outing be his last as a Net?

Thanks to Harden’s host of ties with Philadelphia, the 76ers are confident they can just wait and get him in a forced sign-and-trade over the summer. Because that would require clearing out a copious amount of cap space, they have engaged the Thunder about sending Tobias Harris to Oklahoma City, according to the Inquirer.

But a source close to the Long Island-bred Harris told The Post that could just be posturing to put pressure on Brooklyn.

The Nets are internally split on what to do with Harden, according to the Inquirer. And for good reason.

Keeping Harden arguably gives them a chance to reach a scoring event horizon and the best shot to win a title right now. The Nets are 13-3 when the Big 3 of Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are together, with the most efficient offense in history.

But Harden and Irving are a minus-12 in their 172 minutes together without Durant. Harden has been the only Net to openly push back on the unvaccinated Irving’s part-time status and is reportedly unhappy with the situation.

At 32, Harden is already having his worst offensive season in a decade; how onerous would his league-record $62.5 million salary be in 2026-27 when he’s 37? And that’s if the Nets even manage to re-sign him. Failing to do so would be far worse — watching him bolt in free agency nearly as catastrophic as the 2013 Celtics trade. Not quite, but almost.

Trading Harden presents it’s own set of questions.

The Nets would rid themselves of any Harden-Irving issues, and avoid the nuclear option of him walking out the door for nothing. In Simmons, Brooklyn would land a 25-year-old All-Star and defensive player of the year candidate, one whose contract lines up with Durant (and Irving if he re-signs) and could extend their window of contention.

And the Nets could maximize Simmons more than just about any other team. Other than possibly Golden State, no other squad is as well-constructed to compensate for his lack of shooting. They could even let him be their playmaker out of the post.

But on the downside, Simmons hasn’t played a second this season, claiming mental health issues. Even if they disappear the minute he gets his desired trade, months of rust and inactivity won’t. And the Nets would be handing Harden, a former MVP, to Joel Embiid in the midst of his MVP-caliber campaign.

Rarely does the team giving up the biggest star in a trade win the deal. The Nets’ window for contention might last longer, but 2022 may get harder without Harden.